Front-end loading refuse vehicle

ABSTRACT

A refuse vehicle having a body with a top opening and provided with a lift arm at each side whose rear ends are pivotally connected to the vehicle and whose forward ends extend beyond the front end of the vehicle when the arms are in lowered position. The lift arms carry vertically swingable tilt arms which extend forwardly from the front ends of the lift arms for engagement with a container which is to be lifted and emptied into the top opening of the body. The top opening has a hinged door which opens to allow dumping of the container through the top opening. An electropneumatic-hyraulic system is provided for operating the loading mechanism automatically to lift the container, level the container during the lifting of the same, open the top door and invert the container through the top opening. The system may further operate automatically to redeposit the container on the ground and close the top door. The electropneumatic-hydraulic system includes a valve bank having hydraulic valves, operated by pressure cylinders which are supplied with air under pressure from a source of such air under the control of valves which are electrically operated. The vehicle is provided with rests for the front ends of the lift arms to prevent damage to the equipment due to bouncing or vertical oscillation of the lift arms when the vehicle is moving over rough grounds or bumps and means is also provided for holding the front ends of the lift arms in somewhat elevated positions when a container is positioned thereon to hold the container clear of the ground when the vehicle is to be used for collecting refuse by moving the vehicle along the street while loading the container manually. The vehicle may have a cab at the front end which is provided with a forwardly tiltable body to allow access to an engine beneath the cab and the cab body is provided with a rub-rail at the front to protect the same against damage by accidental engagement with a container being lifted. The rub-rail is hinged or articulated to allow the cab body to be tilted to open position without disconnecting the rub-rail. The operating system is designed to permit manual control of the movements of the loading mechanism at any stage of operation.

United States Patent Orin M. Anderson P.O. Box 14,147, San Antonio, Tex. 78214 [2l 1 Appl. No. 796,053

[22] Filed Feb. 3, 1969 [45] Patented Mar. 30, 1971 [72] Inventor [S4] FRONT-END LOADING REFUSE VEHICLE Primary ExaminerAIbert J. Makay Att0rney-Charles E. Lightfoot ABSTRACT: A refuse vehicle having a body with a top opening and provided with a lift arm at each side whose rear ends are pivotally connected to the vehicle and whose forward ends extend beyond the front end of the vehicle when the arms are in lowered position. The lift arms carry vertically swingable tilt arms which extend forwardly from the front ends of the lift arms for engagement with a container which is to be lifted and emptied into the top opening of the body. The top opening has a hinged door which opens to allow dumping of the container through the top opening.

An electropneumatic-hyraulic system is provided for operating the loading mechanism automatically to lift the container, level the container during the lifting of the same, open the top door and invert the container through the top opening. The system may further operate automatically to redeposit the container on the ground and close the top door. The electropneumatic-hydraulic system includes a valve bank having hydraulic valves, operated by pressure cylinders which are supplied with air under pressure from a source of such air under the control of valves which are electrically operated.

The vehicle is provided with rests for the front ends of the lift arms to prevent damage to the equipment due to bouncing or vertical oscillation of the lift arms when the vehicle is moving over rough grounds or bumps and means is also provided for holding the front ends of the lift arms in somewhat elevated positions when a container is positioned thereon to hold the container clear of the ground when the vehicle is to be used for collecting refuse by moving the vehicle along the street while loading the container manually.

The vehicle may have a cab at the front end which is provided with a forwardly tiltable body to allow access to an engine beneath the cab and the cab body is provided with a rubrail at the front to protect the same against damage by accidental engagement with a container being lifted. The rubrail is hinged or articulated to allow the cab body to be tilted to open position without disconnecting the rub-rail.

The operating system is designed to permit manual control of the movements of the loading mechanism at any stage of operation.

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9 Sheets-Sheet 9 OR/N M. ANDERSON IN VE N TOR MN 6E ATTRNEY raoNT-Ebin LOADING aErUsE vEnicrE BACKGROUND or THE lNVENTlON Refuse vehicles of the front-loader type, as heretofore commonly constructed are provided with lift arms, one at each side of the body of the vehicle, which is sometimes open at the top or provided with a top opening having a door. The lift arms are pivoted at their rear ends to the vehicle rearwardly of its front end and the front ends of the lift arms extend forwardly of the front of the vehicle when the lift arms are in their lowered positions. The lift arms are operated by pressure cylinders mounted on the vehicle rearwardly of the lift arms and the lift arm mechanism includes laterally spaced-apart tilt arms or fork arms at the front ends of the lift arms and which are engageable with a container on the ground and tiltable to allow the container to be lifted by the lift arms and raised to a position to be inverted to dump the container into the top of the vehicle body.

In vehicles of this type the tilting of the tilt arms, elevating and lowering of the lift arms and opening of the top door are usually accomplished by pressure cylinders to and from which the flow of pressure fluid is controlled manually through valves. The pressure fluid control valves are also sometimes controlled electrically by the use of solenoids and due to the pressure and volume of fluid required for the operation of the equipment the solenoids by which the valves are operated must be relatively large and powerful, thus greatly increasing the size and cost of the fluid pressure system.

Moreover, because :of the accuracy with which the equipment must be operated to avoid damaging the mechanism, spilling the refuse, or damaging the vehicle or containers, vehicles of this kind have heretofore been commonly provided with an operating system by which the loading operation could be carried out automatically.

Front-end loading refuse vehicles are also customarily pro vided with a cab at the front and the cab usually is of a type having a forwardly tiltable cab body, which may be tilted to an open position to allow access to an engine and other equipment which may be locate on or beneath the cab. Due to the tiltable arrangement of the tilt arms of the lifting equipment on vehicles of this kind there is danger of damage to the cab body by accidental tilting of a container during lifting or lowering of the same.

Refuse vehicles of the front-loading type as heretofore commonly constructed do not lend themselves well to the collection of refuse by the carrying of a container on the left arm mechanism while the vehicle is moved along a street to be filled manually by persons on the ground.

The present invention has for an important object the provision of a front-loading refuse vehicle having an electropneumatic-hydraulic operating system which is designed for automatic operation of lift a refuse container, level the container during the lifting of the same, open the top door, invert the container to empty the same into the vehicle body and return the container to the ground while closing the top door.

Another object of the invention is to provide means in a refuse vehicle of the kind mentioned whereby the loading operation may be carried out automatically as described above and in which the operation of the mechanism manually may be taken over by the operator at any stage of the operation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an electropneumatically operated valve arrangement in an electropneumatic-hydraulic system for the operation of a refuse vehicle of the type referred to.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a front-loading refuse vehicle, having lift arm mechanism of the kind mentioned, means for supporting the front ends of the lift arms when in their lowered positions to prevent vertical oscillation or bouncing of the arms during movement of the vehicle over rough ground or bumps and to provide rest means for holding the lift arms in a somewhat elevated position with a container supported thereon to hold the container clear of the ground while the vehicle is moved along a street for filling the container manually in the collection of refuse.

A further object of the invention is to provide top door latching mechanism for a refuse vehicle of the front-loader type, which mechanism is operable to unlatch the top door for the opening of the same before the container reaches its dumping position and which operates automatically to relatch the door when the door reaches closed position.

A still further object of the invention is the provision in a refuse vehicle of the front'loader type having a cab at the front provided with a tiltable cab body, of means for protecting the body against accidental engagement with a container during the loading operation and which is designed to allow the cab body to be tilted to its open position without disconnecting the protecting means.

SUMMARY or Tr-rE lNVENTlON The invention comprises a vehicle having a body provided with a top opening at the front thereof which is closed by a hinged door operated by a pressure cylinder to open and close the same and which has latching mechanism operable by operation of the cylinder to unlatch the door immediately before the opening movement of the door and which functions to relatch the door when the same reaches its closed position.

The vehicle is provided with a lift arm assembly having a lift arm at each side of the body whose rear end is pivotally connected to the vehicle and whose forward end extends beyond the front of the vehicle when the lift arms are in their lowered position The lift arms are operated by pressure cylinder assemblies, one at each side of the vehicle whose cylinders are pivotally mounted mediate their ends on the vehicle for vertical swinging movement and whose piston rods are connected to the arms in spaced relation to the pivotal connection of the arms to raise the arms upon actuation of the cylinders.

The lift arms may be of generally inverted U-shape to extend over or above the side doors of a cab at the front end of the vehicle, and at their forward ends the lift arms are connected to a rotatable shaft from which a pair of tilt arms or fork arms extend forwardly for engagement with a container to be lifted which will be positioned between the tilt arms. The tilt arms are adapted to swing vertically to tilt the container to a level position during the lifting of the same by the left arms and to invert the container to empty the same through the top opening when the container has been lifted to its unloading position. The tilt arms are operated by pressure cylinders connected to the lift arms and connected by levers to the rotatable shaft upon which the tilt arms are mounted.

The pressure cylinders of the lift arms, tilt arms and top door are connected into a pressure fluid system which is controlled by electropneumatically operated valves, whereby the lift arms are raised to a location mediate the length of upward travel of the lift arms, after which the tilt arms operate to level the container to prevent spilling of the contents and the top door opens fully, whereupon theupward movement of the lift arms resumes. As soon as the container reaches its dumping position, the tilt arms operate to dump the container by inverting the same into the top opening to discharge the refuse into the vehicle body. After emptying of the container the tilt arms and lift arms are again operated by same single switch in reverse position to turn the container upright and lower the container to a location mediate the length of the lowering movement of the lift arms. The top door automatically closes and locks during initial lowering of the lift arms, whereupon the further lowering and final leveling of the container to the ground may be carried out by manual operation of the same unitized control.

Switches for the automatic operation of the system are mounted on the vehicle at positions to be operated by cams mounted on a shaft or torque tube upon which the lift arms are mounted at their rear ends for rotation in response to the swinging movement of the lift arms. Additional switch means is carried on the lift arms in position for actuation in response to tilting movement of the tilt arms, to stop the upward movement of the lift arms when a predetermined point in the upward movement of the container is reached and to cause leveling of the container and opening of the top door at that point and resumption of the upward movement of the lift arms when the container is leveled and the top door is open fully.

Switches are provided for the top door by which operation of the lift cylinders is resumed when the door reaches open position, and a yellow indicator light inside the cab is turned on to indicate to the operator when the top door is not closed and locked.

The positioning of the switches and their operating means is arranged so that upon initial starting of the container-lifting operation the lift arms are raised to a predetermined point, whereupon the lifting is stopped and the tilting of the tilt arms is initiated to level the container to prevent spilling. At the same time that the container starts tilting, the top door unlocks and starts opening and when the container is again level and the top door is fully open the lifting is resumed. When the raising of the lift arms is discontinued to allow the container to be brought to a level condition the lift arms will not resume their upward movement until the top door is fully open.

At the front of the vehicle, means in the form of support brackets is provided upon which the lift arms may rest with the tilt arms in upwardly tilted position while the vehicle is moving along a highway, so that the lift arms will be prevented from bouncing or oscillating vertically about their pivoted ends to prevent damage to the equipment while traveling over rough ground or bumps. Additional support members are carried on the support brackets, which may be moved to an active position for engagement with the lift arm assembly to support the front ends of the lift arms at at a somewhat elevated location to hold a container carried on the tilt arms clear of the ground to permit the vehicle to move along a street while the container is filled manually in the collection of refuse. These additional support members may be moved aside to inactive positions when not in use.

The pressure cylinders of the pressure fluid system are controlled by valves which are operated by pneumatic cylinders under the control of valves which are operated by electric solenoids, whereby the valves are readily adapted for assembly into a compact arrangement or bank which may be centrally located, and in which the control valves of the pneumatic cylinders are easily operated whereby the size and power of the solenoids may be greatly reduced.

At its front end the vehicle has a cab provided with a tilting cab body which may be tilted forwardly to an open position for access to an engine or other equipment within or beneath the cab, and means, such as a rub rail is provided on the cab body, positioned to protect the same against accidental engagement therewith of a container being lifted. The rub rail is articulated or hinged at locations to allow the cab body to be tilted to open position without disconnection of the rub rail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I. is a side elevational view of a front-end loading refuse vehicle illustrating the invention and showing the container lifting and dumping mechanism in its lowered position in engagement with a refuse container preparatory to lifting the same;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the refuse vehicle of the invention as illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, showing the container lifting mechanism in an intermediate stage of the loading operation with the container in an elevated position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3, showing the container lifting mechanism in its elevated position and the manner in which the container is inverted to empty its content into the vehicle;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, front elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the container lift assembly of the invention, showing details of construction and the arrangement of parts of the control mechanism, including electrical switches and their operating means by which the loading operation is carried out automatically;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 5 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary end elevational view showing a portion of the container lift arm and tilt arm assembly and the electrical switch means and operating mechanism therefor by which leveling of the container during elevation of the same and further elevation of the container after such leveling is accomplished;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary top plan view, of an enlarged scale, of the top door operating and latching mechanism of the invention with the door in its closed position and the latching mechanism in latched condition; FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the door operating and latching mechanism as illustrated in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary end view of a portion of the door latching mechanism as viewed from the left end of FIG. 9 as indicated by the line 11-11 of FIG. 9, showing the door latch in latching position;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to that of FIG. 9 showing the door operating and latching mechanism with the latching mechanism in released position;

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the door operating and latching mechanism illustrated in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a view similar to that of FIG. 11, looking at the left end of the door latching mechanism of FIG. 12 showing the door latch in released position;

FIG. 15 is atop plan view on an enlarged scale showing one of the means by which the lift arms are supported at the front end of the vehicle when in a lowered position during the travel of the vehicle from one location to another;

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of the lift arm rest means as illustrated in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a top plan view, similar to that of FIG. 15, showing the means by which the lift arms are supported at their front ends in a position to carry a container in an upright position at the front end of the vehicle, when the container is to be used for the manual collection of refuse and then to be emptied into the vehicle;

FIG. 18 is a side elevational view of the lift arm front end support means as illustrated in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and partly in cross section, showing the body of the vehicle FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 20-20 of FIG. 19, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 21 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the hydraulic system of the invention;

FIG. 22 is a detail view, showing somewhat diagrammatically a unit of the electrical and pneumatic control mechanism of the hydraulic system of the invention; and

FIG. 23 is an electric circuit diagram of the electrical control system of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PARTICULAR EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings in greater detail the invention as illustrated herein comprises a refuse vehicle of the type having a body, generally designated 10, of generally rectangular configuration, provided with a discharge door 12 at its rear end, operated by one or more pressure cylinders, such as that shown at 15, and a top-loading opening adjacent its front end which is closed by a hinged door 14. The vehicle has a cab 16 of conventional type at its front end, mounted on a chassis 18 of usual design.

The loading of the vehicle takes place at the front end through the top door opening and the body is provided with a longitudinally movable packer blade 11, mounted therein and operable by a pressure cylinder assembly, generally shown at E3, by which the refuse may be compacted against the rear door 52 when the same is closed, and unloaded from the rear end of the body when the door 14 is opened. The loading mechanism includes a pair of lift arms 20,20 one at each side of the vehicle, which are pivotally connected at their rear ends to the vehicle at a location between the cab and body and which extend forwardly with their forward ends disposed in front of the vehicle when the arms are in their lowered position. The lift arms 20,26 are of generally inverted U-shape, to extend above the roof of the cab with one arm extending downwardly forwardly of the cab and the other end extending downwardly rearwardly thereof, so that the arms do not interfere with access to the cab when the arms are lowered.

The crossbar 28 also has connected thereto at each end an actuating lever 34 by which the bar may be rotated, by a pressure cylinder as pivotally connected to each lift arm and whose piston rod 38 is pivotally connected to the outer end of the lever. By this arrangement the tilt arms 26 may be rotated to positions extending forwardly of the forward ends of the lift arms, as shown in FIG. 1, so that the tilt arms may be moved into side pockets or brackets 40 on each side of a refuse container C, wherebythe container may be lifted by the lift arms when the same are swung upwardly, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and the tilt arms may also be rotated to tilt the container to a more or less level position as the same is raised and to invert the container to empty the same into the body through the top-door opening.

The lift arms are actuated by pressure cylinders 42 which are preferably pivotally mounted mediate their ends on the vehicle, and whose piston rods are pivotally connected at their outer ends to lugs 46 attached to the lift arms at locations spaced above the torque tube 22.

The loading opening 48 in the top of the body is of rectangular shape and has an upwardly extending shield extending about three sides of the opening formed with a downwardly and rearwardly sloping front wall 50 and opposite sidewall portions 52,52 which extend straight upwardly. The door R4 is shaped to close the opening and is formed along its forward edge with a beveled end face 54 which seats against the sloping end wall of the opening when the door is closed. The door is of reinforced sheet metal construction hinged at its rear edge to the adjacent edge portionof the top wall 56 of the body, as indicated at 58.

The door 14 is opened and closed by a pressure cylinder 60, pivotally connected to the top wall of the body, as by means of the pin 62 extending through perforated upright brackets 64, as seen in FIG. 12 and whose piston rod 66 is pivotally con nected at im outer end to spaced-apart upright brackets 68 attached to the door adjacent its hinged ends and extending upwardly therefrom, as by means of a pin 70 extending through perforations in the brackets.

The door is releasably latched in its closed position by latching mechanism illustrated in detail in FIGS. 9 to M, which mechanism includes a pair of pivotally mounted latch elements 72, one at each side of the door adjacent its front end, mounted on upwardly extending lugs, such as that shown at 74 in FIGS. 11 and M attached to the door structure. The sidewalls 52 of the shield of the door opening are provided with openings 76 into which the latch elements 72 are extended to hold the door closed. The latching mechanism includes latch operating shafts 78 pivotally connected at their outer ends to the elements 72 and whose inner ends are connected to bellcranks as which are also pivotally connected to the forward end of an actuating rod 82, as by means of pins 84 extending through longitudinally elongated slots 86 in the rod and slidable therein. The bellcranks are pivotally mounted on the front marginal portion of the door as by means of pins $8. The actuating rod as is also pivotally connected at its rear end to the pin 7@ which has limited longitudinal movement in elongated slots 9% in the brackets 68.

The bellcranks are yieldingly urged in directions of rotation to move the latching elements 72 toward latching elements 72 toward latching positions by a coil spring 92 located between the pivotal connections of the latch operating shafts 78 to the bellcranks, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 12.

By this arrangement and construction of the door latching and operating mechanism, when the pressure cylinder as is operated to open the door the piston rod 66 first pulls the pin 70 rearwardly in slots 90 to exert a pull on the rod 32 which rocks the bellcranks 80 in directions to release latch elements 72 against the resistance of the spring 92, and when the pin 70 reaches the limit of its rearward movement in the slots 9% with the latching mechanism thus released, further pull on the piston rod 66 then results in swinging the door upwardly to open position. During closing movement of the door, the pin 70 will move forwardly in slots 91 thus moving the slots 86 forwardly with the rod 82 to position the pins for forward movement in the slots as the bellcranks are rotated in latching directions by the spring 92 when the latches 72 reach the latch openings 76. By this operation of the latching mechanism the latches are released prior to. opening movement of the door and are held in released condition until the door again reaches closed position, whereupon the door is automatically relatched.

The various pressure cylinders of the vehicle are operated by hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic system such as that illustrated in FIG. 21. The lift arm operating cylinders 42 are connected at one end into the hydraulic system by a common pressure fluid line 94 and at the other end by a common line 96, through which the flow of fluid is controlled by a valve 130, and the compaction or packer blade operating cylinder assembly 13 is similarly connected by lines 98 and 100. The door operating cylinder is furnished with pressure fluid for the opening and closing of the loading opening door 14 through lines 102 and 104, and the tilt arm operating cylinders are connected into the system by lines 106 and 108 by which pressure fluid is supplied to the opposite ends of the cylinders, while the rear door operating cylinders 15 are supplied with pressure fluid through a single common line 110. The flow of pressure fluid through the various pressure lines of the system is controlled by valves suitably arranged in a valve bank generally designated 118. The fluid in the hydraulic system is maintained under pressure by a pump 112, of conventional type, whose inlet is connected to a reservoir 114 by a pipe 116 and whose outlet is connected to the inlet connection of the multiple valve bank 118, by a pipe 120, while a return line 122 connects the outlet from the valve bank I18 to the reservoir 1M. In the operation of the system the pump maintains a constant flow of pressure fluid from the reservoir 14 to the valve bank while fluid is returned to the reservoir through pipe 122. and the flow of fluid to and from the various pressure cylinders is controlled by the operation of the individual valves in the valve bank.

Each of the valves of the valve bank 118 may conveniently be of the spool valve type, such as that illustrated in FIG. 22, wherein one valve unit of the valve bank, together with the mechanism by which it is operated is shown. The valve of FIG. 22 has a valve housing 134 provided with the usual inlet and outlet ports and within which a valve member or spool is slidably disposed for movement to one position or another to establish communication between some of the ports while shutting off such communication between others of the ports. The movable valve member of spool has a connecting rod 136, or the like, slidably extending from one end of the valve housing and which is connected at its outer end to the piston rod 138 of a pressure cylinder 1450 by which the valve is actuated. The pressure cylinder 144) is supplied with compressed air at either end thereof through lines 142 and 144 from a common pressure line 1416;, under the control of valves 14% and which are operated by electrical solenoids 152 and 154 respectively, suitably connected to an electrical current supply system in the usual manner, as by means of conductors 156 and 15% under the control of suitable switch means to be more fully disclosed hereinafter.

The electrically actuated valves 152 and 154 are of a wellknown type in which exhaust ports are provided through which pressure may escape from the cylinder 140 through the lines 142 and 144 when the valves are closed, so that when either valve is open to allow the supply of air from the supply line 146 to one end of the cylinder 140 fluid may flow out of the other end thereof.

The operation of the various valves of the hydraulic system is controlled by electrical switches suitably mounted on the vehicle, some of which switches are actuated by means functionally associated with the moving parts of the loading mechanism whereby the loading operation may be carried out by automatic stages.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, a number of switches 160, 162, 164 and 166 are suitably mounted on the vehicle at a convenient location, preferably above the torque tube 22 of the lift arms 20. The switches 160, 162 and 164 are of a type having a lever arm 170 which carries a roller 172 at its outer end, and the lever anns of the switches are positioned to hold the rollers thereof at locations to be engaged by cams 174, 176 and 178 on the torque tube 22, to rock the levers of the respective switches 160, 162 and 164 to actuate the switches.

The switch 166 is of a type having a plunger 180 positioned for engagement with a cam on the torque tube to actuate the switch. Cam 182 is carried by the torque tube at a suitable location to engage the plungers 180 of the switch 166 to actuate the same as the lift arms reach the uppermost position of their arc.

Thus, the switches will be actuated in a suitable sequence in response to rotational movement of the torque tube 22 in either direction whereby the loading operation may be carried out in predetermined states.

Additional electrical switches 189 and 190 are suitably mounted on one of the lift arms 20, as shown in FIG, 8, of which the switch 190 has a lever arm 200 which carries a roller 202 positioned for engagement with a cam 204 on the lever 34, while the switch 189 is identical to and located directly behind switch 190 and has a lever arm which carries a roller positioned for engagement with a cam located on lever 34. Both switches 189 and 190 will be actuated when the tilt arms are in a predetermined position between the limits of the stroke of tilt cylinders 36.

The top door mechanism as illustrated in FIG. 13 is also provided with switch means, including switches 206 and 208, suitably mounted at spaced-apart locations on the body, of which the switch 206 has a roller 210 carried on a lever 212 in position for engagement with the door when the door reaches its open position, while the switch 208 has a roller 214 carried on a lever 216 positioned for engagement with an arcuate actuator member 218 attached to the door to hold the switch in one position during opening and closing movement of the door and to release the same when the door is fully closed.

The electrical circuitry by which the operation of the apparatus is controlled is illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 23.

Means is provided at the front of the cab 16, for supporting the lift arms 20 at their front ends while the vehicle is moving about, and also for supporting the lift arms with their front ends at an elevation above the ground with the container C on the tilt arms 26, to hold the container in a position clear of the ground when the vehicle is to be used for the collection of refuse by moving the vehicle along the street and filling the container manually.

The lift arm supporting means as illustrated in FIGS. 15, 16, 17 and 18 includes a pair of brackets or support plates 206 each having at its rear end a portion 208 of angle shape adapted to fit over and against the front member 210 of the frame of the vehicle or on the front bumper of the same and attached thereto in any convenient manner, as by means of bolts 212, in a forwardly extending position. At its forward end, each of the brackets 206 is formed with a step portion 214 upon which the cross-shaft 28 may rest when the lift arms are lowered to engage the cross-shaft with the brackets. When the vehicle is to be moved about, the tilt arms 26 may be tilted upwardly and the cross-shaft 28 engaged with the brackets 206, as seen in FIG. 16 to support the lift arms on the brackets and prevent upward and downward oscillation of the lift arms, which would otherwise be caused when the vehicle runs over rough roads or bumps.

As seen in FIGS. 17 and 18 the brackets 206 may each be provided with an upwardly extending support plate 216 upon whose forward extremity a wing plate 218 is hingedly mounted for substantially horizontal swinging movement to a forwardly extending position or to aside position clear of the step portion 214 of the bracket, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 17.

The wing plate 218 carries at its outer end an angle-shaped seat forming element 220 positioned for engagement with the cross-shaft 28, as shown in FIG. 17, to support the front ends of the lift arms at an elevation to hold the container C clear of the ground. The wing plate may be releasably held in its forwardly extending position by a sliding bolt 222 which is slidably inserted through tubular retainers 224 and 226 on the wing plate and bracket, and which may be withdrawn to permit the wing place to be swung aside to its inactive position.

The body 19 of the cab 16 of the vehicle is preferably of a type which is hingedly attached at the front to the vehicle for forward swinging movement to a position to uncover the engine and other accessory parts enclosed in the cab, and the cab body is provided with a guard or rub rail 228, extending forwardly and upwardly from the body 19 in spaced relation thereto and supported on the body 19 by suitable braces 230 and 232. At its lower end the rub rail 228 is connected to the frame of the vehicle below the body 19 by a hinge link 234, and the rub rail is formed in sections hingedly connected together as seen at 236, whereby the cab body may be swung forwardly, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4 to permit access to the engine without disconnecting the rub rail. The rub rail is positioned to protect the cab body from damage due to contact with a container which is being lifted by the lift arms which will be held away from the cab body by the rub rail in the event of accidental tilting of the container during lifting of the same.

The operation of the equipment is started and controlled by an operator in the cab of the vehicle by operation of manually operable switches 1.91, 193, 197, 199, 201, 203, 207, 209 and 211, which are conveniently located for this purpose and which may be arranged or grouped to enable the various functions of the equipment to be readily distinguished, as seen in dotted lines in FIG. 24, at 213, 215, 217, 219, 221 and 223.

In the operation of the equipment, the lift arms will initially be in their lowered position with the tilt arms adjusted to extend substantially horizontally forwardly from the lift arms. With the tilt arms thus adjusted, the vehicle is moved up to a container C to be lifted to insert the tilt arms through the brackets 40 of the container, as shown in FIG. 1. The tilt arms may, of course, be adjusted to 'any desired angle and the lift arms may be raised to any extent to position the tilt arms to enter the brackets 40 should the container be at an elevated location, such as on a loading platform or dock.

With the tilt arms thus in engagement with the container the automatic operation of the loading mechanism is initiated by manually closing the switch 195, whereupon valve will be opened to supply fluid under pressure to the cylinders 42 to raise the lift arms and the container therewith. This switch is held closed manually by the operator and opens when released.

As soon as the. lift arms reach a predetermined position of their upward movement, such as when the arms have moved to a position at an angle of about 45 to the horizontal, switch 162 will be closed to operate valve 30, and valve 132 will be opened to furnish pressure fluid to the tilt arm cylinders 36 to move the tilt arms to substantially horizontal positions, thus leveling the container to prevent spilling of its contents. Fluid pressure is also furnished to valve 124 at the same time by operation of the switch 164 to unlock and open top door. The opening of the top door results in the operation of switch 206 to operate valve 124 to furnish cylinder 42 with further fluid to continue the upward movement of the lift arrns.

After the lift arms have reached the position of their upward movement at which leveling ofthe container takes place the further operation of the equipment to elevate and dump the container continues automatically.

When the container C reaches a position to be dumped into the body lit) switch 36% will be actuated to cause the valve E30 to be moved to a position to shut off the flow of pressure fluid to cylinder M to arrest the movement of the lift arms and valve 132 will be opened to supply pressure fluid to the tilt arm cylinders to actuate the same to invert the container into the top opening. When the container is fully tilted into the body lid the operator releases the switch.

To return the container to its original position on the ground from its inverted position in the body t0, the operator actuates switch 197. Valve H32 will then be opened to tilt the container out of the hopper to a predetermined position at which valve 132 will be closed and valve 130 will be opened by actuation of switch 1% to lower the lifting arms to the ground. The operator releases switch 197 as the container comes to rest on the ground. If the container does not approach the ground squarely, it may be necessary to release switch 197 to stop the lowering of lift anns with the container a few inches off the ground and actuate either switch 199 or switch 201i, depending upon whether up or down-tilting movement is required to level the container. Thereafter, the leveled container may be lowered to the ground by actuating switch 197.

The switches 162 and 160 may, of course, be of suitable type, such as double-pole switches or in each case they may consist of two separate switches as shown in the diagram of FIG. 24, suitably arranged for actuation by the same of the lift arm torque tube.

The invention is disclosed herein in connection with a particular embodiment of the equipment, which is intended by way of illustration only, it being evident that various changes can be made in the arrangement and construction of the parts, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

lclaim:

i. in a front-end loader mechanism the combination with a motor vehicle of the type having a body with a refuse receiving opening in the top, of:

a pair of lift arms pivotally mounted on the vehicle for vertical swinging movement between a lower position in which the free ends of the lift arms extend to the front end of the vehicle and an upper position in which said free ends extend above the top of the body;

a pair of fork amrs pivotally mounted on the lift arms for vertical swinging movement from a position extending forwardly from the free ends of the lift arms for engagement with a separable container in an upright position to connect the container to the lift arms to be lifted thereby upon upward movement of the lift arms to a position extending rearwarclly from said free ends when the lift arms are in said upper position to dump the container into the body through said opening;

power means for imparting vertical swinging movement to said lift arms;

power means positioned for coaction with said fork arms and said lift arms to swing said fork arms vertically; and

means for actuating said power means to cause said lift arms to move upwardly from said lower position with said fork arms in said forwardly extending position and to arrest such upward movement when the lift arms reach a predetermined position between said upper and lower positions, said actuating means being responsive to such arrest of said upward movement to cause said power means to move said fork arms to move said container to a substantially level position and being responsive to such leveling movement of said fork arms to cause said power means to resume the upward movement of said lift arms.

2. The front-end loader mechanism as claimed in claim 1 including:

closure means movably mounted on said body for movement into and out of closing relation to said opening; and

Hill

power means for opening and closing said closure means,

and wherein said actuating means includes means responsive to said leveling movement of said fork arms to actuate said power rheans to open said closure means and means responsive to the opening of said closure means to cause said power means to resume the upward movement of said lift arms.

3. The front-end loader mechanism as claimed in claim 2 including:

latching means positioned for coaction with said body and closure means to releasably hold the closure means in closed position; and

means responsive to said leveling movement of said fork arms to release said latching means when said container reaches said level position.

4. In a front-end loader mechanism the combination with a motor vehicle of the type having a body with a refuse receiving opening in the top, of:

a pair of lift anns pivotally mounted on the vehicle for vertical swinging movement between a lower position in which the free ends of the lift arms extend to the front end of the vehicle and an upper position in which said free ends extend above the top of the body;

a pair of fork arms pivotally mounted on the lift arms for vertical swinging movement from a position extending forwardly from the free ends of the lift arms for engagement with a separable container in an upright position to connect the container to the lift arms to be lifted thereby upon upward movement of the lift arms to a position extending rearwardly from said free ends when the lift arms are in said upper position to dump the container into the body through said opening;

power means for imparting vertical swinging movement to said lift arms;

power means positioned for coaction with said fork arms and said lift arms to swing said fork arms vertically;

means for actuating said power means to cause said lift arms to move upwardly from said lower position with said fork arms in said forwardly extending position and to arrest such upward movement when the lift arms reach a predetermined position between said upper and lower positions said actuating means being responsive to such arrest of said upward movement to cause said power means to move said fork arms to move said container to a substantially level position closure means movably mounted on said body for. movement into and out of closing relation to said opening;

closure operating means responsive to arrest of said upward movement to open said closure means when said container reaches said level position; and

means responsive to the opening of said closure means for causing said power means to resume the upward movement of said lift arms when said closure means is open.

5. The front-end loader mechanism as claimed in claim 4 including means positioned for coaction with said latching means and said power means for opening said closure means to release said latching means prior to opening movement of said closure means.

6. In a front-end loader mechanism the combination with a motor vehicle of the type having a body with a refuse receiving opening in the top, of:

a pair of lift arms pivotally mounted on the vehicle for vertical swinging movement between a lower position in which the free ends of the lift arms extend to the front end of the vehicle and an upper position in which said free ends extend above the top of the body;

a pair of fork arms pivotally mounted on the lift arms for vertical swinging movement from a position extending forwardly from the free ends of the lift arms for engagement with a separable container in an upright position to connect the container to the lift arms to be lifted thereby upon upward movement of the lift arms to a position extending rearwardly from said free ends when the lift arms are in said upper position to dump the container into the body through said opening; and

means movably mounted on the vehicle for movement into means positioned for coaction with said lift arms to actuate and out of a position for coaction with said lift arms to said switch means in response to upward movement of hold the lift arms in a position to support said container in aid lift armsan upright position at an elevation for movement with the The front-end loader mechanism as fin d n Clai 8 invehicle. eluding:

'7. The front-end loader mechanism as defined in claim 1 Swilch "163K150" Said lift d wherein said means for actuating said power means includes means Positioned for coactlo" wll-h Said fork arms to ate said switch means on said lift arms in response to movement of said fork arms away from said forwardly ex- 10 tending position.

electrical means for controlling such actuation.

8. The front-end loader mechanism as defined in claim 7 wherein said electrical means includes:

switch means positioned on said vehicle; and 

1. In a front-end loader mechanism the combination with a motor vehicle of the type having a body with a refuse receiving opening in the top, of: a pair of lift arms pivotally mounted on the vehicle for vertical swinging movement between a lower position in which the free ends of the lift arms extend to the front end of the vehicle and an upper position in which said free ends extend above the top of the body; a pair of fork arms pivotally mounted on the lift arms for vertical swinging movement from a position extending forwardly from the free ends of the lift arms for engagement with a separable container in an upright position to connect the container to the lift arms to be lifted thereby upon upward movement of the lift arms to a position extending rearwardly from said free ends when the lift arms are in said upper position to dump the container into the body through said opening; power means for imparting vertical swinging movement to said lift arms; power means positioned for coaction with said fork arms and said lift arms to swing said fork arms vertically; and means for actuating said power means to cause said lift arms to move upwardly from said lower position with said fork arms in said forwardly extending position and to arrest such upward movement when the lift arms reach a predetermined position between said upper and lower positions, said actuating means being responsive to such arrest of said upward movement to cause said power means to move said fork arms to move said container to a substantially level position and being responsive to such leveling movement of said fork arms to cause said power means to resume the upward movement of said lift arms.
 2. The front-end loader mechanism as claimed in claim 1 including: closure means movably mounted on said body for movement into and out of closing relation to said opening; and power means for opening And closing said closure means, and wherein said actuating means includes means responsive to said leveling movement of said fork arms to actuate said power means to open said closure means and means responsive to the opening of said closure means to cause said power means to resume the upward movement of said lift arms.
 3. The front-end loader mechanism as claimed in claim 2 including: latching means positioned for coaction with said body and closure means to releasably hold the closure means in closed position; and means responsive to said leveling movement of said fork arms to release said latching means when said container reaches said level position.
 4. In a front-end loader mechanism the combination with a motor vehicle of the type having a body with a refuse receiving opening in the top, of: a pair of lift arms pivotally mounted on the vehicle for vertical swinging movement between a lower position in which the free ends of the lift arms extend to the front end of the vehicle and an upper position in which said free ends extend above the top of the body; a pair of fork arms pivotally mounted on the lift arms for vertical swinging movement from a position extending forwardly from the free ends of the lift arms for engagement with a separable container in an upright position to connect the container to the lift arms to be lifted thereby upon upward movement of the lift arms to a position extending rearwardly from said free ends when the lift arms are in said upper position to dump the container into the body through said opening; power means for imparting vertical swinging movement to said lift arms; power means positioned for coaction with said fork arms and said lift arms to swing said fork arms vertically; means for actuating said power means to cause said lift arms to move upwardly from said lower position with said fork arms in said forwardly extending position and to arrest such upward movement when the lift arms reach a predetermined position between said upper and lower positions said actuating means being responsive to such arrest of said upward movement to cause said power means to move said fork arms to move said container to a substantially level position closure means movably mounted on said body for movement into and out of closing relation to said opening; closure operating means responsive to arrest of said upward movement to open said closure means when said container reaches said level position; and means responsive to the opening of said closure means for causing said power means to resume the upward movement of said lift arms when said closure means is open.
 5. The front-end loader mechanism as claimed in claim 4 including means positioned for coaction with said latching means and said power means for opening said closure means to release said latching means prior to opening movement of said closure means.
 6. In a front-end loader mechanism the combination with a motor vehicle of the type having a body with a refuse receiving opening in the top, of: a pair of lift arms pivotally mounted on the vehicle for vertical swinging movement between a lower position in which the free ends of the lift arms extend to the front end of the vehicle and an upper position in which said free ends extend above the top of the body; a pair of fork arms pivotally mounted on the lift arms for vertical swinging movement from a position extending forwardly from the free ends of the lift arms for engagement with a separable container in an upright position to connect the container to the lift arms to be lifted thereby upon upward movement of the lift arms to a position extending rearwardly from said free ends when the lift arms are in said upper position to dump the container into the body through said opening; and means movably mounted on the vehicle for movement into and out of a position for coaction with said lift arms to hold the lift arms in a position to support said container in an upright poSition at an elevation for movement with the vehicle.
 7. The front-end loader mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for actuating said power means includes electrical means for controlling such actuation.
 8. The front-end loader mechanism as defined in claim 7 wherein said electrical means includes: switch means positioned on said vehicle; and means positioned for coaction with said lift arms to actuate said switch means in response to upward movement of said lift arms.
 9. The front-end loader mechanism as defined in claim 8 including: switch means on said lift arms; and means positioned for coaction with said fork arms to actuate said switch means on said lift arms in response to movement of said fork arms away from said forwardly extending position. 